Nicole is the feminine form of Nicolas, which originates from the Greek name Nikolaos. This compound name is composed of the elements nikē (victory) and laos (the people), hence it’s meaning “victory of the people.” The variation Nicole arose in the Middle Ages in France to honor St. Nicholas.

Nicole embodies a balanced combination of French sophistication and simple elegance. However, the two-syllable name is equally adorable thanks to its nicknames Nic and Nikki.

Looking for a pretty name for your baby girl? Nicole might be the perfect pick for you.

Nicole was a top-10 U.S. name from 1978 to 1988, according to the Social Security Administration, climbing as high as No. 6 among girls in 1982.

  • Origin: French, GreekGender: Nicole is traditionally a female-given name meaning “people of victory,” or “victory of the people.” Male variations, such as Nicolas, Nikolaos, and Nico are common.Pronunciation: ni-KOHL

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Verywell Family believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

In the years since, however, it has lost some of its popularity. The name dropped out of the top 10 in 1989 and the top 100 in 2008, and sat at No. 266 as of 2020.

Name Variations

The following are variations of the name Nicole:

  • Colette (French)Nicolette (French)Nika (Russian)Nicola (Italian, Greek)Nicolina (Greek)

Similar Names

Similar sounding names to Nicole:

  • CassandraChristineDanielleMichelleMoniqueNathalie NichelleSasha

Other girl names starting with N:

  • NancyNadiaNaomiNardaNataliaNatalieNatashaNellieNemaNicolaNicoletteNinaNishaNova

Common Nicknames

Common nicknames for Nicole include:

  • ColeColeyNicNicaNikki

Suggested Sibling Names

Looking for a sibling name for Nicole? Here are some popular options:

  • AlexisCamilleEvangelineVictoriaGabrielLucasRaphaëlZachery

Famous People Named Nicole

Notable people named Nicole include actors, athletes, authors, singers, and politicians. The name and its variations have also popped up on the big and small screens. In fact, even the rock band, “Point Blank” released the song, “Nicole” in 1981.

Famous Nicoles

  • Nicole Kidman, American-Australian actress, producer, and singerNicole Scherzinger, American singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, and television personalityNicole “Snookie” LaValle, American reality television personalityNicole Krauss, American author best known for her four novels “Man Walks Into a Room” (2002), “The History of Love” (2005), “Great House” (2010), and “Forest Dark” (2017)Nicole Renee Barnhart, American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Kansas City in the National Women’s Soccer League

Famous Nikkis

  • Nikki Reed, American actress of “Twilight” fame, screenwriter, singer-songwriter, and modelNikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and former governor of South Carolina

Fictional Nicoles

  • Nicky Nichols, played by Natasha Lyonne in the Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black"Dr. Nicole Herman, played by Geena Davis on Season 11 of “Grey’s Anatomy"Nicole Walker, played by Reese Witherspoon in the movie “Fear"Nicole Diver, the beautiful, wealthy protagonist of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1934 novel “Tender Is the Night”

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:

  • Top 1,000 Baby Boy Names
  • 100 Gender-Neutral Baby Names
  • 275 Popular Baby Names for Twins